What were the main cities in Palestine in Jesus' time?

Answer 1

The region later known as Palestine was divided by the Romans as follows:

• The province of Judea, which also included Samaria. Its cities and villages included:

• Jerusalem
• Caesarea (the capital of the province)
• Jericho
• Hebron
• Bethlehem
• Bethany - village

• The territory of Herod Antipas (a son of Herod the Great). It had two regions: Galilee and Perea. Its cities and villages included:

• Sepphoris - built by Herod Antipas
• Tiberius - built by Herod Antipas
• Bethsaida
• Nazareth - village
• Capernaum - village
• Cana - village
• Nain - village

• The territory of Philip, which included Iturea and Trachonitis. Its cities included:
  • Caesarea Philippi
• The cities of the Decapolis (ten cities) - self governing cities. These included:
  • Gerasa (Jerash)
  • Scythopolis (Beth-Shean) - located between Galilee and Perea
  • Hippos
  • Gadara
  • Pella
  • Philadephia (Amman)
  • etc.
  It is likely "ten" was a round number, designed to cover all the cities that were allowed to be self-governing. Our main list includes Damascus, which is geographically remote from these others.